Giants' John Harbaugh needs to bring in another kicker to push Dominic Zvada, and clean up mistakes

John Harbaugh has talked often about mastering details, but for a team that prides itself on discipline and not making late-game mistakes, the Giants’ failures in both areas cost them Thursday when they could’ve created more distance between themselves and the rest of the NFC East.

The Giants had three fumbles — one lost by Malik Nabers when the Giants were in the red zone — in their 24-21 loss to the Commanders. They had a crucial pass-interference penalty called on Deonte Banks on the Commanders’ go-ahead drive.

Worst of all, their kicking situation is shakier than ever. Dominic Zvada missed a 33-yard attempt, his first miss from under 40 yards all season. He’s 2-for-6 against the Commanders in two games, one that ended in a tie and another a three-point loss.

Harbaugh said earlier this month that he trusts his rookie kicker. He said it again Thursday.

“As soon as a guy doesn’t make a play, you can’t start firing people left and right. Especially your kicker who’s a rookie,” he said. “So I’m confident that he’s going to become a good kicker. If at some point in time it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen, but we’re not going to panic halfway through the season when the guy has made a bunch of kicks.”

Yet Harbaugh’s actions didn’t back that up. He took a delay-of-game penalty on his team’s opening drive at the Commanders’ 37-yard line instead of sending Zvada out for a 55-yard attempt.

Maybe that was wise, given that Zvada has missed three attempts from more than 50 yards. He is 8-for-14 since making his first nine attempts.

Harbaugh needs to bring in some competition for Zvada. He disciplined his running backs for fumbling, and as someone who prides himself on special teams, he needs to stick to that by bringing in another kicker soon, if not next week.

Banks’ penalty was reminiscent of his past issues tracking the ball. He deserves some grace because of his strong play this season, but he did the same thing against the Cardinals with a late penalty before his walk-off interception.

Now, back to the fumbles.

The Giants recovered their own fumbles by Isaiah Likely and Greg Desrosiers Jr., but with the Giants driving in the third quarter, Nabers’ lost fumble at the Washington 16 loomed large.

Nabers, who left without addressing reporters, had the ball punched out. It’s happened far too often from the Giants, who have fumbled eight times — and lost three — in their last five games. Their total of 17 total fumbles leads the NFL, with seven lost tying them for third.

“There’s a lot of plays out there where we’re kicking ourselves,” J.J. McCarthy said. “Could have done this, could have done that. But that’s football. At the end of the day, as players, as coaches, as a whole organization, we’re going to find a way to get better.”

They have to.  For them to seriously push for the playoffs, those miscues must be cleaned up. It cost them Thursday. It could cost them again.

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.